Holidays in Russia |
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The phrase "Nobleness of Russian Soul" has already become a maxim and is familiar to everyone who is acquainted with our citizens. All the depth of the respect and love our compatriots have for their friends, guests, and traditions that pass from generation to generation are best revealed at the holidays.
New Year
New Year is one of the most beloved Russian holidays. It is celebrated on the night of December 31/January 1. On the eve of the holiday, people decorate city squares with fragrant Christmas trees (usually firs or pines). The trees are abundantly adorned with colorful toys, silver fir cones, gilt stars and nuts. Figures of the symbolic hosts of this holiday - Father Frost and his granddaughter Snow Maiden - are placed under the Christmas tree, as they are believed to guard the gifts for relatives and guests, hidden under the Tree.
It is difficult to imagine the Russian New Year holiday without a table groaning with delicious food that symbolizes the prosperity of the hosts and their guests in the coming year. When the hand of the clock moves closer to half past eleven, hosts and their guests take their places at the festive table to "bid farewell to the old year" and to raise to it a glass of wine or small liqueur glass of famous Russian vodka. Just as the clock on the main Russian tower - the Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin - begins to strike, counting the seconds of the old year, people start to make wishes - one for every clock strike. Having heard the last strike of the clock, people begin to congratulate each other and present gifts to each other. Then they light the candles on the Christmas tree and proceed to the festive dinner, drinking to the happy New Year.
Orthodox Christmas
In Russia, the Nativity of Christ is celebrated on January 7. This holiday follows Advent, which lasts for 40 days. The rules of the Advent are the strictest on Christmas Eve, when it is forbidden to eat anything except "coliphia" - cooked grains, honey and dried fruits. This taboo is valid until "the first star." A divine service in Orthodox cathedrals starts on January 6 at midnight. The candle, lighted in front of the Christmas Icon to the singing of the Christmas hymn, symbolizes "the first star" - the star of Bethlehem.
On January 7, all Russian believers congratulate each other with this holiday and receive guests. They give each other gifts in the memory of those who were received by the baby Christ. A dish of poultry, usually a delicious tempting duck stuffed with juicy apples, is a centerpiece of the festive table.
Christmas is followed by two weeks of Christmas. There are open-air festivals in the streets, and homes are visited by the "Kolyada" - people disguised in fancy dress knock at their neighbors' houses and sing humorous songs - "Yule-songs." This is an ancient tradition, according to which, those who meet Kolyada (treated and awarded with a ruble or so) will be happy in the New Year.
Girls and young women eagerly anticipant Christmas-tide because this is the best time to tell fortunes! The most mysterious one is fortune-telling with mirrors. In a dark room with only one lit candle, a girl who wants to know her fortune places two mirrors on the table, one in front of the other (a smaller one and a bigger one). It is believed that at midnight she is sure to see the face of her future husband in the mirror. As soon as this happens, she should cry out "Keep away from this place!" and cover the mirror to keep the luck.
23rd of February
On this day, Russia celebrates "The Day of the Defender of the Motherland," when all Russian men and boys are congratulated. The history of this holiday goes back to 1918 when the soldiers of the Red Army smashed the Army of the Kaiser near Pskov and Narva. Originally, this day was called "Red Army Day." In 1946, it was renamed "Day of the Soviet Army and Navy." Since 1995, it has borne the familiar name of "Day of the Defender of the Motherland."
On the 23rd of February, all men and boys are celebrated and receive gifts. This holiday is celebrated both within a family and among co-workers - the better half of the staff congratulate "the stronger sex" and present them with gifts and souvenirs. At present, the political aspect of the day of the 23rd of February has gradually been vanishing, though it plays a tremendous role in patriotic bringing up of the younger generation and helps to pay respect to those who defended the honor of Russia.
International Women's day
In Russia, International Women's Day is celebrated on the 8th of March. This tradition goes back to 1910, when Klara Tsetkin declared this day as a day of solidarity and the fight of women for equal rights at the conference in Copenhagen. For a long time, March 8 was a day when women organized demonstrations to demand of all sorts of freedoms. However, the rebellious calls for collective fighting calmed down, and now International Women's Day is a festival of spring filled with the fragrant mimosa blossom - its palms, as well as the first March flowers - tulips and daffodils - are presented to moms, sweethearts, sisters and daughters. However, flowers are not the only presents for women this day. Men can choose to give whatever they wish as gifts. On this day, men take over all household chores, lay a festive table for their sweethearts or order a romantic dinner in a cozy restaurant.
"The fair sex" celebrates this holiday in spring because tenderness and the warmth of the first spring sunbeams live in the smile of every woman.
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is one of the original Russian festivals. Mardi Gras is celebrated for the whole week, the so-called Cheese Week, the last week before the Lent. This festival combines both Christian and pagan traditions. It is a week of Winter Farewell and Spring Greeting. There are colorful open-air festivals taking place in all cities, towns and villages. The sounds of music, happy screams of children and laughter of grownups can be heard here and there. People ride on merry-go-rounds and ice slides, placed in the squares. Street vendors sell the most delicious treats, including the popular Russian pancakes. Round, brown and calescent pancakes symbolize the Spring sun that beats Winter. It is absolutely necessary to eat pancakes at Mardi Gras, because troubles pass by those who stay under the protection of Yarila, the Slavic God of Sun himself. Pancakes are served in every house: with butter, curds, mushrooms, salmon or caviar - how to resist such a temptation!
Cheese Week is one of the most colorful events of the year. Doubtlessly, the climax of the week, its brightest episode, is the burning of huge Mardi Gras man of straw. People burn it in the square while singing songs and bidding farewell to Winter that burns under the spring sun just like the man of straw. It takes place on the last day of Cheese Week - on Sunday, the day of forgiveness (Cheesefare Sunday). On this day, people ask each other to forgive voluntary or accidental injuries and forgive each other with the words, "The God will forgive you!"
Easter
In Russia, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday that follows the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The morning of Easter Sunday is the end of Great Lent when Orthodox believers can break their fast with specially prepared food: paskha (Easter cake), culich, painted and colored eggs. After the food is sanctified at church, culiches are placed on towels decorated with lace and embroidery, and eggs are placed on dishes with sprouted grains of oats and wheat and green salad leaves. In addition, there are the most delicious meat and fish dishes on the festive table. Holy Week is the best time to pay visits and to accept guests. Friends and acquaintances exchange colored eggs and greet each other with the words "Christ is risen!" - "Indeed he is risen!"
Victory Day
The 9th of May is a day of the great victory of the Russian people over Nazi Germany. This holiday is sacred for every citizen of our Motherland. Military parades and celebrations in honor of Great Patriotic War veterans are usually held in all Russian cities. People lay wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers. Both the young and the old go to the streets to feel the atmosphere of this Great Holiday once again. The air is scented with spring flowers, and people's eyes glisten with tears of happiness and gratitude to those who achieved this Victory. The sky is full with colorful balloons, music plays everywhere, and in the evening, just as in distant 1945, the sky bursts with multicolored festival fireworks.
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